"How is this possible? His chakra is this strong?!"
Even Uchiha Madara was shaken.
Though Ryoma hadn't unleashed Sage Art: Wood Release – True Several Thousand Hands or the Top Transformed Buddha Statue, the sudden appearance of three giant wooden avatars, resembling Senju Hashirama's constructs, was enough to make Madara hesitate.
If he revealed himself now to strike Ryoma, he might risk exposing his presence. Worse, Ryoma might uncover his tracks through the smallest clues.
But while Madara hesitated, Ryoma's wooden giants were already in motion.
The towering figures extended their massive palms, seizing swathes of White Zetsu soldiers. The wooden constructs absorbed them in an instant—their Hashirama cells siphoned away, bodies shriveling into husks before collapsing into nutrient-rich slurry on the battlefield.
The Third Mizukage's Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet slammed into the wooden colossi repeatedly, but the barrage was no more effective than tickling them.
Madara's murderous intent faded.
Ryoma was too powerful. The risk outweighed any reward.
Even in the past, when Madara had fought Hashirama, his younger self could not overcome the full might of the Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands. Now, older and more cautious, facing a young man like Ryoma who carried such power—he had no confidence.
"…After so many years of silence, to think another like him would appear."
"My plans will have to change."
Madara's form slowly faded away. He was not a man bound by pride or stubbornness—he had survived the Valley of the End by feigning his death, after all. Retreat was nothing new.
As he withdrew, both Black Zetsu and White Zetsu vanished into the earth. Those White Zetsu who were still emerging sensed danger and immediately tried to retreat.
"Trying to run? Too late!"
Ryoma split his chakra into three bodies, each controlling a wooden giant. They yanked thousands of half-burrowed White Zetsu from the ground like radishes. The constructs drained them at once, refilling Ryoma's chakra reserves to overflowing. Excess energy surged into his forehead, darkening the mark of the Yin Seal.
At the same time, the Hashirama cells within the Zetsu were devoured, raising Ryoma's fusion with Senju Hashirama's character card at incredible speed—
75%!
85%!
95%!
99%!
In mere moments, the absorption of Zetsu had pushed him over twenty percent further. Only 1% remained until full synchronization.
At 90% fusion, Ryoma unlocked a new ability—Sage Mode.
Next came Sage Art: Myojinmon, the divine sealing gates.
And soon, at 100%, he would finally gain the legendary jutsu: Sage Art: Wood Release – True Several Thousand Hands.
Ryoma's pulse quickened. Just one more push. Two or three hours, at most.
"Water Release – Water Severing Wave!"
The Third Mizukage, unwilling to give him the chance, inhaled sharply. He unleashed a razor-thin, high-pressure stream of water—a blade of liquid so sharp it could cut through anything.
Swish!
The torrent split Ryoma and his wooden avatar cleanly in half.
Bang!
The clone exploded, and the wooden colossus crumbled apart.
Ryoma calmly turned toward the Mizukage. Black Zetsu and Madara were gone. The White Zetsu army had been annihilated.
Only one enemy remained.
The Mizukage met Ryoma's gaze and froze. Something was terribly wrong. Why was he the last one left?
"Uchiha Madara—you tricked me!"
Panic seized him. He turned to flee.
"Water Cl—"
He never finished. His eyes went wide, and his body crashed lifelessly to the ground.
Rumble.
A massive crater, nearly a hundred meters wide, scarred the battlefield.
At its center lay the Third Mizukage, sprawled on the ground, his body trembling as he stared up at the sky in horror.
High above, Ryoma hovered in midair. His eyes bore crimson markings, a red circle glowed on his forehead, and his pupils shone golden.
"This… this is Sage Mode?!"
The Mizukage froze. Before he could react, Ryoma's figure blurred—suddenly appearing above him, descending with unstoppable force.
Bang!
The Mizukage's eyes went wide. A sickening crack echoed as Ryoma's foot drove straight into his spine, pinning him against the earth. His attempt to form the seal for Water Clone Technique was crushed in less than a heartbeat.
"Don't move," Ryoma said coldly, pressing him into the ground.
The Mizukage coughed blood violently, his body convulsing. Below the waist, he could feel nothing. Terror consumed him.
He never imagined Ryoma's blow would completely shatter him in an instant.
"Spare me! I'll do anything you ask!" the Mizukage gasped, desperation lacing his words.
But Ryoma paid him no mind. His thoughts lingered on the brief clash.
Less than three seconds.
In that time, he had interrupted the Mizukage's ninjutsu twice and completely crushed him with raw strength.
This was the might of Senju Hashirama's Sage Mode—no complex hand seals, no lengthy preparation. Just overwhelming power delivered in a single strike.
[Ding! Based on the current situation, the system offers three options!]
[Option 1: Spare the Third Mizukage. Reward: the Mizukage's surrender…]
Before the announcement could finish, the system abruptly changed.
[Ding! The host has slain the Third Mizukage, automatically completing Option 3. Reward: S-class Character Card – First Mizukage, Byakuren.]
Ryoma blinked, startled. "Wait… what?"
He glanced down. At some point, the Third Mizukage's life had already slipped away.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The Third Mizukage had died just like that?
Even Ryoma hadn't expected the battle to end so abruptly.
...
TN:
🦊 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (+30 Chaps)